DBT Exercises for Patients

Posted by Tim Tarks on March 21st, 2023

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is used to help individuals who struggle with emotion regulation, interpersonal communication, and self-destructive behaviors. Here are some DBT activities that you can use with clients:

1. Mindfulness exercises: These exercises involve focusing attention on the present moment, without judgment. Examples include breathing exercises, body scans, and mindful observation of thoughts and emotions.
2. Emotion regulation skills training: These skills help individuals to identify and manage intense emotions in a healthy way. Examples include creating a "feelings wheel" to help identify and label emotions, and using opposite action to regulate emotions that are causing distress.
3. Interpersonal effectiveness training: These skills help individuals to communicate their needs effectively, while maintaining healthy boundaries and relationships. Examples include role-playing effective communication, and using assertiveness skills to say no.
4. Distress tolerance training: These skills help individuals to cope with intense emotions and crisis situations without resorting to self-destructive behaviors. Examples include creating a self-soothing kit, and practicing distraction techniques.
5. Values clarification: This exercise involves helping the client to identify their core values, and using these values as a guide to behavior and decision-making. The therapist may use values cards or a values worksheet to facilitate this exercise.
6. Problem-solving: This exercise involves helping the client to identify problems and develop a plan of action to solve them. The therapist may use a problem-solving worksheet or guide the client through a step-by-step process to identify the problem, generate solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution. You can use Dialectical Behavior Therapy PDF worksheets to help deliver these activities to your clients.

These activities can be adapted to suit the specific needs and goals of individual clients, and can be used in combination with other therapeutic approaches. It is important to note that DBT should be conducted by a licensed therapist who has received specialized training in this approach.